Heartbroken daughter of Australian woman Lisa Cunningham says her mum didn't murder her stepsister

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Mother-of-four Lisa Cunningham spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement
The 43-year-old could become the first Australian woman on death row in the US
She claims she and her husband are innocent and daughter died of pneumonia
Eldest daughter insists her mother is innocent and fighting for her mum's release

By Kylie Stevens and Brittany Chain For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 14:55 EST, 18 November 2018 | Updated: 14:55 EST, 18 November 2018

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The eldest daughter of an Australian woman facing the death penalty over the death of her mentally ill stepdaughter insists her mother is innocent.

Lisa Cunningham could become the first Australian woman on death row in the US if she is found guilty of the alleged neglect and killing of her seven-year-old stepdaughter Sanaa in February 2017.

Sanaa suffered acute schizophrenia and other mental health problems, but died from complications due to sepsis and acute bronchitis.

Lisa Cunningham could become the first Australian woman to face the death penalty in the US

Originally from Adelaide, Mrs Cunningham now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in the maximum security unit of Estrella Women’s Jail near Phoenix, Arizona.

Lisa's oldest daughter Cierra, 21, is fighting for her mother to be released from jail.

She described her mum as someone who 'would do anything she knows you want and then double it.'

Cierra is vying for custody in order to keep her siblings together, who are currently in state care.

Not only is she not allowed to visit her mum in prison but is still grieving the loss of stepsister Sanaa almost two years ago.

'I miss her every single second of every day and I would do anything to have her back,' Cierra tearfully told Channel 7's Sunday Night.

'She wasn't killed. She was loved, just like they were. And they just want her back too. They just want to be a family.'

Lisa' stepdaughter Sanaa (pictured) was just seven-years-old when she died in February 2017

Her mother spoke publicly from prison for the first time since she was sentenced in September.

Mrs Cunningham claimed that Sanaa died from pneumonia and that her desperate pleas for help with her schizophrenic stepdaughter fell on deaf ears.

'Nobody was murdered here. Nobody was killed, and nobody was abused,' she told Sunday Night reporter Matt Doran in a phone interview.

'We didn't get any help. Sanaa never got any treatment. They gave her pills.'

The former prison guard and chaplain labelled it a 'disgrace' that Sanaa was being remembered as a victim and not somebody who was mentally ill.

Lisa Cunningham's daughter Cierra (pictured) is banned from visiting her mum in prison

'She was not a burden to our family and that is not a fair thing to say to us or her siblings,' Mrs Cunningham said.

'And it's not fair to her memory.'

She added it would be 'illogical' if she was convicted at her upcoming trial and sentenced to death.

Mrs Cunningham's husband, former Phoenix detective Germayne Cunningham was also charged with Sanaa's murder after a series of complaints of the child's neglect were investigated.

But she claims she and her husband are innocent, and were the best parents they could be to Mr Cunningham's 'dangerously schizophrenic' daughter.

Ligatures to her body, including a bone-deep cut on her foot and markings suggestive of being bound with zip-ties and handcuffs, were noted, with police alleging Sanaa was the victim of vicious abuse.

Lisa Cunningham now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in the maximum security unit of Estrella Women’s Jail (pictured)

They allege she was restrained in a straitjacket and cable ties before her death.

Mrs Cunningham claims she is the victim of an elaborate set up after she threatened to sue the state for Sanaa's death.

She claims Sanaa was severely impaired and self harmed, was dangerous, and spoke of a voice in her head that 'urged her to kill'.

They claim she once attacked the family dog.

In September, the stepmother blamed the anti psychotic drug Risperdal that was prescribed to the seven-year-old for schizophrenia for the death.

One of the side affects of the medication is pneumonia, as well as other health complications.

Mother-of-four Lisa Cunningham (pictured) now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement

She and her husband, former Phoenix detective Germayne Cunningham, were arrested and charged with Sanaa's murder after a series of complaints of the child's neglect were investigated

Mrs Cunningham argues her and her husband wanted to avoid anti psychotic drugs and wanted to try cannabis treatment, but said they were threatened by the department that if we did not comply with the drug order.

Child protection services first investigated Mrs Cunningham and her husband in March of 2016.

Mrs Cunningham and her husband will remain in jail until their trial in July 2020

Lisa Cunningham claims she and her husband were the best parents they could be to Mr Cunningham's 'dangerously schizophrenic' daughter Sanaa (pictured)